They found an apartment through a broker, but worried that they would lose their chance without doing something special.

So they wrote a love letter singing the praises of the apartment and neighborhood and got it.

And apparently, they're not the first.

"In a competitive bidding situation, some brokers recommend that buyers write a letter -- part mash note, part college application essay -- to the seller," the Times explains. "It makes buyers seem more human than does a sterile pile of financial documents, and it can set them apart from the rest of the pack. Sometimes, it can even tip the scale in their favor."

Some sellers are so swooned by these emotional outpourings that they will put prose over price.

One seller even accepted a bid that was $8,000 lower than the higher bidder, because the letter "finally sealed the deal."

Now that you are ready to pour your heart into this business transaction, the Times has gathered some advice for you: schmaltz and specificity are key. And sending a batch of chocolate chip cookies or "some nice muffins" with the note couldn't hurt, either.

Proceed with caution, though: "Other brokers shy away from advising snacks, pointing out that peanut butter cookies could be received poorly in a house with peanut allergies."